The Bible was a huge success when it aired on the History Channel two years ago, and it was a huge hit again when it came out on DVD. It was even spun off into a big-screen movie, Son of God, that raked in $67.8 million worldwide despite having no marquee names and consisting almost entirely of footage recycled from the TV show.

So it was probably inevitable that producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey would produce a sequel of sorts. But the series they’re working on now – A.D.: The Bible Continues, which premieres this Sunday on  NBC [CTV in Canada] – isn’t a sequel in the strictest sense. In some ways, it’s more of a reboot.

The Bible covered the entire book for which it is named, from Genesis to Revelation, including the life of Jesus and the rise of the early Church. The first episode of A.D., on the other hand, goes back to the trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus as told in the gospels – and it covers these events from very different angles than the earlier series did.

Burnett, speaking over the phone along with Downey from their office in Los Angeles, says it was necessary to “reset” the story because “the whole point of A.D. is the Resurrection and what happened to build the early Church.”

For the full interview go here.

Joining together for Easter

Good Friday is always one of the best times of the year to find Christians worshiping and praying together. Here are a few interesting examples:

 

 

The Way of the Cross will take place in the Downtown Eastside again this year, starting on the steps of First United Church at Hastings and Gore. Here’s what the organizers have planned:

 

It starts with First Nations drummers on the steps of First United Church at 12 noon on Good Friday and moves through the DTES. We walk with a cross, sing taize and pray. The six stops [including Bud Osborn poetry corner and ending at Oppenheimer Park] are short, with a brief reflection and prayer. Last year over 100 people walked with us. It is a humble meditative time for everyone. Come and walk with us.

 

 

Members of the four churches which support Place of Refuge will gather for a Good Friday service, April 3 at 10:30 am. Place of Refuge is “a Christian organization that provides transitional living accommodations in South Vancouver for people recovering from alcohol and drug addictions.”

 

Culloden Church, First United Mennonite Church, Sherbrooke Mennonite Church and Killarney Park MB Church all support Place of Refuge.

 

 

Two of Vancouver’s major churches, both in the downtown core, will once again gather together on Good Friday. Members of Coastal Church will join their friends at First Baptist Church for three services.

 

 

Japanese and Korean churches from around the Metro Vancouver area  will gather for a joint Easter celebration at Burnaby Yulbahng Presbyterian Church, near Edmonds Community Centre, during the evening of April 10.

 

Marty Haugen will be ‘homilist in residence’ at St. Mary’s Kerrisdale Anglican Church. Holy Week with Marty Haugen will feature “daily reflections on the journey, from Lament to Hope to Abundant Life March 30th to April 5th.”

 

Haugen is widely known as a liturgical composer, workshop presenter, performing and recording artist and author. GIA Publications, which produces his work, points out the range of his appeal:

 

For the past 30 years, Marty has presented hundreds of workshops and concerts across North and Central America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific Rim. He has over 30 recordings and more than 400 separate printed editions available through GIA Publications, Inc. and other publishers.

 

He has a number of published mass settings for Roman Catholic communities, including Mass of Creation, and several worship settings for Lutheran congregations, including Holden Evening Prayer and Now the Feast and Celebration, as well as a communion setting for the new Evangelical Worship Book (ELW-Augsburg Fortress).

 

April 2, 2015

Holy Week with Marty Haugen – April 2, 2015 - April 5, 2015 at All Day
Ian Sheh: Love Your Face One Hundred: Opening Reception – April 2, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

April 3, 2015

Way of the Cross – April 3, 2015 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Rags for Righteousness: An Experiential United Good Friday Service – April 3, 2015 at 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Perogy Night in Vancouver – April 3, 2015 at 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Seven Last Words by Franz Joseph Haydn – April 3, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
St. John Passion – April 3, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Vancouver Chamber Choir: Faure Requiem - The Good Friday Concert – April 3, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

April 4, 2015

St. John Passion – April 4, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Welcome the Light of Christ – April 4, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm

April 5, 2015

Greet the Easter Dawn – April 5, 2015 at 7:30 am - 8:30 am

April 7, 2015

Church Leaders Forum 2015: Heart & Soul of the City - Neighbourhood Mapping – April 7, 2015 at 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Prayer For Surrey – April 7, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

April 8, 2015

Jazz Evensong: Voices in Praise Quartet – April 8, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

April 9, 2015

Festival of the Arts, Media & Culture – April 9, 2015 - April 13, 2015 at All Day
Man of the Shroud Exhibition & Lectures – April 9, 2015 - April 13, 2015 at All Day
Special Needs Adoptions – April 9, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Trinity Western University Concert Band & Orchestra – April 9, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Sam Rocha: Three Sets – April 9, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm

April 10, 2015

Christian Singles Adventure Weekend – April 10, 2015 - April 12, 2015 at All Day
Elevate Conference 2015 – April 10, 2015 - April 11, 2015 at All Day
Easter Celebration: Japanese and Korean Churches – April 10, 2015 at 6:15 pm - 9:00 pm

April 11, 2015

Life in the Neighbourhood – April 11, 2015 at 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Wellspring: Moving Forward on Climate Change – April 11, 2015 at 9:30 am - 2:00 pm
We Live Here Concert – April 11, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

April 12, 2015

Examine the Influence of Musicians from the Billy Graham Crusade – April 12, 2015 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Jazz Vespers: Mighty Fraser Big Band and Christian Findlay – April 12, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Peace for Jerusalem: A Biblical Zionist View – April 12, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Chris Tomlin: Love Ran Red Tour – April 12, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

April 13, 2015

Nightshift: Unmasking the Truth – April 13, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
CPJ Justice Tour 2015 – April 13, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Cinergy Film Festival – April 13, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

April 14, 2015

Rod Wilson's Retirement Celebration – April 14, 2015 at 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

April 15, 2015

Jazz Evensong: Doe Bender Trio – April 15, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

April 16, 2015

Church of God Vancouver Spring Conference – April 16, 2015 at 11:30 am - 4:30 pm

April 17, 2015

Greater Vancouver Chinese Missions Conference – April 17, 2015 - April 18, 2015 at 2:00 pm - 5:15 pm
ACTS Open House – April 17, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Andrae Crouch Tribute Concert – April 17, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Laila Biali & The Radiance Project Album Release Concert – April 17, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Phoenix Chamber Choir: Glow – April 17, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

April 18, 2015

Indian Residential Schools Panel Conversation – April 18, 2015 at 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Drum Making Workshop – April 18, 2015 at 12:30 pm - 4:00 pm
LeFevre Quartet, Fraser Valley Quartet – April 18, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
OMF International: 150 Years Birthday Celebration – April 18, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Coquitlam Chorale: SING! – April 18, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

April 19, 2015

Armenian Genocide Centennial Events – April 19, 2015 - April 25, 2015 at All Day
Armenian Genocide Centennial Events: Vancouver Sun Run – April 19, 2015 at 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Coquitlam Chorale: SING! – April 19, 2015 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Examine the Influence of Musicians from the Billy Graham Crusade – April 19, 2015 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Yom Hashoah Commemorative Afternoon – April 19, 2015 at 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Fostering 101 – April 19, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

April 20, 2015

Deadline for Submissions for Christian Seasons Calendar – April 20, 2015 at All Day

April 22, 2015

Pastoral Approaches: The Church and Same-Sex Attraction – April 22, 2015 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Dr. Josh Kruse: Personal Baggage, Part I - Reducing Stress and Anxiety – April 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Earth Day Film Event – April 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Jazz Evensong: Noah Franche-Nolan Trio – April 22, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

April 23, 2015

Seeking the Peace of Jerusalem: Overcoming Christian Zionism in the Quest for Justice – April 23, 2015 - April 25, 2015 at All Day
Transpose: Trinity Western University 2015 Graduate Art Exhibition – April 23, 2015 - April 25, 2015 at All Day
Armenian Genocide Centennial Events: Ringing of the Bells – April 23, 2015 at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Christian Zionism and the Palestinians – April 23, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

April 24, 2015

John Piper: Look at the Book Conference – April 24, 2015 - April 25, 2015 at All Day
Armenian Genocide Centennial Events: Gather at Art Gallery, Walk to Armenian Genocide Monument – April 24, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
L'Arche Vancouver: The Art Together Project – April 24, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel North Shore – April 24, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Tri-Cities – April 24, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Chapel Vancouver – April 24, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Keepers of the Faith Concert (with Freedom Singers & Father's Daughters) – April 24, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
A Jewish-Palestinian Dialogue – April 24, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Dave Faber from Faber Drive headlines Hope For Women’s Dessert Concert Fundraiser – April 24, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Fraser Valley Bible Conference: Creation and the Gospel – April 24, 2015 - April 25, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 1:00 pm
Armenian Genocide Centennial Events: Ceremony at the Armenian Genocide Monument – April 24, 2015 at 9:00 pm - 10:00 pm

April 25, 2015

re:Create Art Show – April 25, 2015 at All Day
Stronger Together: Effective Training for Missionary Care – April 25, 2015 at 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Timberline Ranch Family Festival 2015 – April 25, 2015 at 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Keepers of the Faith Concert – April 25, 2015 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Worship Invasion – April 25, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Stanislav Yovanovitch plays Chopin Showpieces – April 25, 2015 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

April 26, 2015

Good Seed Sunday: Delivered by A Rocha – April 26, 2015 at All Day
Jazz Vespers: Karin Plato – April 26, 2015 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Keepers of the Faith Concert – April 26, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Spring Social: Russ Rosen Band – April 26, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

April 27, 2015

Bursting Your Bubble Training (Monday evenings) – April 27, 2015 at 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Faith and Justice Roundtable #4: Reading the World – Migrant Justice – April 27, 2015 at 6:45 pm - 9:00 pm
Bethel Music Worship Night – April 27, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

April 28, 2015

LeaderImpact Forum with Garth Jestley: Taking Risk on Purpose – April 28, 2015 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

April 29, 2015

Pornography: Harmful or Useful? – April 29, 2015 at 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Jazz Evensong: Ben Henriques & Jennifer Hedges – April 29, 2015 at 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

April 30, 2015

Eyes & Wings Prophetic Conference 2015 – April 30, 2015 - May 2, 2015 at All Day
I Am . . . Women's Conference – April 30, 2015 - May 2, 2015 at All Day
Ian Sheh: Love Your Face One Hundred – April 30, 2015 - May 3, 2015 at All Day
The Whole Enchilada Art Show – April 30, 2015 at All Day